On 15 June 2004, Morocco and the United States sign the Free Trade Agreement — the third U.S. FTA in North Africa/the Middle East after Israel and Jordan, along Bush’s Middle East Free Trade Initiative.

The U.S. Congress ratified the deal in July 2004; the implementing act was signed on 17 August. Entry into force: 1 January 2006.

The text covers market access for industrial and farm goods, financial services, telecoms, e-commerce, intellectual property and environment and labour clauses. It excludes goods and services from Western Sahara.

USTR presented the package as the best market access yet offered to a developing country. Critics in Morocco flagged risks for local agriculture and generic medicines.

For Morocco–U.S. relations, 15 June 2004 marks the economic consolidation of the strategic partnership.

The official text appears on the USTR website.

The Morocco–United States FTA of 15 June 2004 remains the bilateral free-trade agreement in force since 2006.

Image: Morocco; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Morocco–United States Free Trade Agreement. Treaty text: Morocco Free Trade Agreement (USTR).